The New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL) is the largest debate league in the nation.

Over the past twelve years, the League has helped expand debate access in New York City from 10 to 200+ schools. Every day we support debate practices. Every week we hold training sessions for coaches.  Every year we hold 40 tournaments for our Open League, NYC Reads, and district programs. Every summer we host camps to create momentum for the academic year.

Over 90% of our high school seniors graduate and are accepted to college each year. Many of our graduates also receive full or partial scholarships to the college of their choice because of their participation in debate.

We were honored by the White House as one of the nation’s top after school programs. Click here for our White House Awards Video.

Awards and Recognition

• White House Youth Award For Top Nonprofits in the Arts & Humanities
• Points of Light’s Civic Innovation Award for Top New Nonprofit in Civics
• Top Speaker at the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues National Championships (2013, 2014)
• Social Impact Exchange: Top 100 Nonprofits in the Nations
• PASEsetter Award for After School Eduation
• 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency
• Teach for America Innovation Award Finalist
• The Catalog for Giving of NYC’s Best of the Best Nonprofit Award
• New York State Senate Resolution Honouring our Work
• Listen for Good: Advancing the practice of feedback loops in the social sector
• City of New York Certificate of Recognition for Promoting Volunteerism